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I am building brick fence posts for a privacy fence of 340' long and 6' high. Not being a mason or familiar with masonry at all I have many questions. I have been reading on how to build them and I was wondering if it is better to build the posts completely out of brick with the center filled with mortar like I have been reading or if it would be better/possible to sink a 4x4 post then brick around the post? I know if I build completely out of brick I need to make footers. **Twice the dimension of posts and 8"-12" thick. Also, what dimension of post should be used for this purpose? I am unsure how to attach the stringing 2x4s between the posts to the brick. I plan on doing shadow box pickets.

One additional (and hopefully useful) comment would to be sure you don't brick the rails into the posts as you may one day need to replace them. Use inset treated wood plates or the same attached to the piers from the outside. When a section rots or gets damaged, yoi can repair it without disturbing the brick. If you don't you might be calling the brick mason back to rebuild perfectly good posts!